DRAGON KINGS
Played by invitation. Won by skill. Survived by few.
A game of Eternus
Enter the rules ⌄The Legend
What is whispered in the halls of the powerful
Dragon Kings can only be played by secret invitation, once a player has proven himself or herself in the game of Swords. The players wear masks, but are rumored to be the most powerful movers and shakers of the land — a cast of mighty figures of both good and bad alignment, all vying for a single item that is the prize of the event. The entry fee is steep.
The rumor is that anyone who plays without permission of the thieves' guild is cursed to suffer, and then die horribly.
Few know that the game is notoriously crooked, played mostly by thieves looking to bilk wealthy victims. Only those of amazing skill and special training can hold their own in the game.
The Game
Unless otherwise stated, the rules are the same as Texas Hold'em. Everything below is where Dragon Kings departs.
Buy-Ins
Buy-ins are 400 points. Typically one re-buy is allowed per match, but usually requires contributing more money. Points, prize terms, and re-buys must be agreed upon by a majority of the players before play begins. Those who don't agree can leave the game at this time.
Play Begins
The time and place are set in advance. The last person to arrive shuffles the cards. Anyone who is late cannot play.
Players draw until someone draws a black king. That player receives a 50-point bonus from the house, the first deal, first choice of seat, and chooses the first voluntary wing card to put in play. The remaining players draw from the original deck for seats — high card sits left of the dealer, continuing clockwise from high to low.
Misdeals
Misdeals are taken very seriously in Dragon Kings. Anyone who fouls a deal must place 40 points in the pot of the hand played on the next deal.
Take special care when wing cards require extra cards — they must come from the bottom of the deck.
First Honors
The first person (if any) to play Twinned Dragon Kings is awarded First Honors: a 50-point bonus from the house. The bonus applies only to the first time they are played per game.
Twinned Dragon Kings
The hand that cannot be beaten
♠
♠
♣
♣
Both black kings together make an invulnerable hand called Twinned Dragon Kings — or more commonly, just dragon kings. It is impossible to beat by any other hand, including a royal straight flush. You can hold both cards in your hand, or one or more can sit on the board.
When the kings form a board hand, kickers are scored from highest to lowest, similar to a flush — the hand goes to the player with the highest kicker or pair combination alongside the kings.
A player who plays Twinned Dragon Kings may make a single voluntary wing card permanent for the rest of the game, and put another voluntary wing card into play. If a second hand of Twinned Dragon Kings is played, the first player's permanent and temporary cards are negated, and the second player chooses anew.
Hand Rankings
Wild cards make "impossible hands" possible — and two hands stand above everything
- Twinned Dragon KingsBoth black kings. Beats everything, including a royal straight flush.
- Grave Digger Spade FlushA spade flush featuring the K♠ cannot be beaten by anything except Dragon Kings.
- Royal / Straight FlushAs in standard poker.
- Five of a KindPossible with wild cards. Beats four of a kind, but not a straight flush.
- Four of a KindStandard order continues from here.
- Full House · Flush · Straight · Trips · Two Pair · Pair · High CardAs in Texas Hold'em.
Wing Cards
Twelve cards that bend the game. Tap any card to reveal its effects.
Involuntary wing cards — the Grave Digger (K♠) and Black Death (K♣) — are always in play and can never be replaced by a voluntary card.
Voluntary wing cards enter play one at a time. A player who holds one of the black kings in their hole cards may put a voluntary wing card into play before the next deal begins. When a new one enters, the last is negated — unless a player with Twinned Dragon Kings has made it permanent. A permanent card stays in effect until another player gets Dragon Kings, or the game ends.
When a wing card requires dealing additional cards, they must come from the bottom of the deck — and remember the misdeal penalty.
Every Wing Card begins artwork-side up. Tap a card to view its rules; tap again to return to the artwork.